Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Decide on the era and type of bows that you want to collect. These go hand-in-hand, as certain types of bows were only sold and manufactured during specific eras. Vintage bows are described as any bows produced before the 1970s, but some collectors still purchase bows made during the 1980s.
Pick a type of material, which helps narrow down your choices. Many beginners to the world of bow collecting assume that only wood bows are collectible, but there are many metal bows from the 1950s and earlier that are also collectible. You can also narrow down your collection by buying only a specific type of wood or metal bow.
Research different companies and types of bear bows with vintage archery magazines and catalogs from the original companies. These catalogs and magazines will help you determine when a bow was crafted and the manufacturer of the bow, and may help you find bows that you would want to add to your collection.
Check the condition of the piece carefully before you buy it, as poor or fair condition bows are worth much less than those in good or excellent condition. As these bows were meant to be used, you'll typically find cracks in the wood, dents in the metal, and even some chips. You should look for bear bows in good condition.
Look for identifying marks, which make the bows more valuable. Vintage bear bows made of wood often have the name of the company or the logo burned into the piece. With metal bows, the manufacturer may have engraved the company name or logo into the bow.